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The Best Gift of All

A surprise present, a gentle Nativity picture story, and a gift bag full of love for Jesus

  • ☀️ Sunbeam
  • Week 52
  • 📅 Sunday, December 27, 2026
🤔 Forehead Guess🏆 Showdown
💡 The big idea

Baby Jesus is Heavenly Father’s best gift to me.

I can thank Heavenly Father for baby Jesus and give Jesus a gift of love.

Come, Follow Me manualOpen this week (Christmas)
Know the chapters

This week the manual turns the whole Old Testament toward Christmas. It uses the words “we have waited for him, and he will save us” from Isaiah 25:9. For hundreds of years, prophets promised a Savior. Isaiah 9:6 says, “For unto us a child is born.” Micah 5:2 names little Bethlehem. Then it happened. Jesus was born and laid in a manger. Angels announced Him to shepherds in the fields. That’s Luke 2:1–20.

For three-year-olds, the whole lesson is one tiny truth: baby Jesus is Heavenly Father’s best gift to us. See John 3:16. They just opened presents, so start there. They open a present and find baby Jesus. They hear the Nativity from their spots. Then they fill a gift bag with gifts of love they can give Him, like a hug, a kind word, or sharing.

Nativity guidelines: baby Jesus is always a doll or a bundled blanket. No child plays Jesus or Heavenly Father. You tell the story with the pictures, and the kids knock, rock, and “baa” from their spots. The scriptures don’t mention a donkey on the trip to Bethlehem. So this story just says Mary and Joseph traveled. If a child asks about Jesus’s family, keep it simple. Mary is His mother, Heavenly Father is His Father, and Joseph took loving care of Him.

Next week the New Testament begins, and the class will learn all about Jesus’s life. Today is a perfect happy bridge. The long wait is over, and Jesus came.

Only have 5 minutes?

Put a doll or a bundled blanket inside a gift bag. Let the kids open the “present” and find baby Jesus. Tell the Nativity picture story with a few soft sounds. Teach “For unto us a child is born” with motions. Then fill the gift bag with pretend gifts of love for Jesus. Brought nothing? Tap “I brought nothing.” The present is pretend, and the gifts go in cupped hands.

What to bring2 items

Tick what you have. Forgot something? Every step that needs a supply has a no-supplies version in the plan below.

Before class

  1. Wrap the doll snugly in a blanket and put it inside the gift box or bag.
  2. Practice a knock on your knees and a soft “Baa!” once.

If your class is wild

  • Visitors are welcome! Say their names and give them a job right away. They could be Sound Helper or open the present.
  • After-Christmas tired or sugar-bouncy? Do the Sheep, Shepherds, Angels wiggle early. Then come back to the story.
  • Tears at drop-off? Let the child hold the gift bag. A parent can sit by the door until they settle.
  • For potty breaks, never leave the class alone, and never go somewhere alone with one child. Ask a Primary presidency member or the parent to help, following your ward’s plan.
  • Rocking arms and “Shhh” is your calm-down tool. Whisper, “Baby Jesus is sleeping.” Wait for everyone to copy you.

The 25-minute plan22 min + bonus

Bonus steps are for when you have extra time. Steps that mention Teach Mode, the Sound Board or other class games refer to the Gospel Sparks app; on the web you can play Forehead Guess and Scripture Showdown from this page.

1. Hook

The Special Present

3 min

Opening a present to find baby Jesus shows the one tiny truth: Jesus is Heavenly Father’s best gift.

  1. SAY“Christmas just happened! Did anyone get a present?”
  2. Let a few kids answer in one word. Hold up the gift. Ask, “Heavenly Father gave the whole world a present. Do you want to see it?”
  3. Everyone drumrolls on their knees while a child helps open it.
  4. Lift out baby Jesus gently. Say, “Baby Jesus! He’s Heavenly Father’s best gift to us.”

Class screen: 🎁 What’s inside the present?

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: A baby doll or a small blanket bundled up like a baby (baby Jesus), A gift-wrapped box or a gift bag big enough to hold the doll

The Invisible Present

  1. SAY“Christmas just happened! Heavenly Father gave the whole world a present. Want to see it?”
  2. Carry in a big invisible present. Oof! Everyone helps untie the ribbon, rip the paper, and lift the lid.
  3. Rock your arms like you’re holding a baby. Say, “Baby Jesus! He’s Heavenly Father’s best gift to us.”

Class screen: 🎁 Open the pretend present!

2. Story

Picture Story: The Best Gift of All

6 min

Seven gentle picture scenes tell the Nativity while the class joins in from their spots.

  1. SAY“Let’s hear how baby Jesus was born. You get to make some of the sounds!”
  2. Practice once. Knock on your knees, “Knock, knock!” A soft “Baa!”
  3. Swipe through the scenes. Read each one. Make the sound together when one shows.
  4. After scene 7, ask, “Who is Heavenly Father’s best gift?” Everyone rocks their arms and says, “Jesus!”
🌪️ Keep the sheep “baa” soft and quick. If it turns into a barnyard, rock your arms and whisper the next line.

Class screen: 👶 The best gift of all! · 🚪 Knock, knock! · 👶 Shhh. · 🐑 Baa!

3. Wiggle break

Sheep, Shepherds, Angels

2 min

A quick listen-and-do wiggle uses the story’s characters to get the bounce out.

  1. SAY“Listen and do what I say!”
  2. “Sheep!” means hands and knees and “Baa!” “Angels!” means stand tall, arms wide. “Shepherds!” means shade your eyes and look around.
  3. Call them out slowly, then faster. End with “Sleepy sheep!” Everyone curls up quietly while you count to five.

Class screen: 🐑 Sheep! Shepherds! Angels!

4. Scripture

Our Little Verse: Isaiah 9:6

3 min

Rocking-arms motions help Sunbeams remember that baby Jesus was born for them.

  1. SAY“Long ago, the prophet Isaiah wrote about baby Jesus. Listen!”
  2. Hold up your scriptures. Read slowly, “For unto us a child is born.” Then say, “A baby was born for us. It was Jesus!”
  3. Teach the Key Verse motions one at a time. Say it together three times: a whisper, a regular voice, then a happy voice.
  4. Ask, “Who was the baby?” Everyone rocks their arms and says, “Jesus!”

Class screen: 👶 For unto us a child is born. · 🤗 For unto us · 👶 a child · 🙌 is born

5. Game

A Gift for Jesus

5 min

Filling a gift bag with pretend gifts of love practices the big idea: Heavenly Father gave us Jesus, and we can give Jesus our love.

  1. SAY“Heavenly Father gave us Jesus. What gift can WE give Jesus? Let’s fill this gift bag with love!”
  2. Pass the empty gift bag. Each child puts in a pretend gift and shows it, like a hug, a smile, folded arms, or sharing.
  3. After each one, everyone copies it and says, “A gift for Jesus!”
  4. Shake the full bag gently. Say, “So much love! Jesus loves it when we’re kind and help others.”
🌪️ Give shy kids two choices, like “Do you want to give Jesus a hug or a smile?”

Class screen: 🎁 A gift for Jesus!

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: A gift-wrapped box or a gift bag big enough to hold the doll

Gifts in Our Hands

  1. SAY“Heavenly Father gave us Jesus. What gift can WE give Jesus? Let’s hold our gifts in our hands!”
  2. Everyone cups their hands. Go around the circle. Each child names a gift of love and shows it, like a hug or a smile.
  3. After each one, everyone copies it and says, “A gift for Jesus!”
  4. Say, “So much love! Jesus loves it when we’re kind and help others.”

Class screen: 🤲 A gift for Jesus!

6. Testimony

Heavenly Father’s Best Gift

3 min

A quiet moment with baby Jesus helps each child feel Heavenly Father’s love.

  1. SAY“Let’s use whisper voices, like baby Jesus is sleeping.”
  2. Hold the baby Jesus doll gently. Share, “Heavenly Father loves us so much, He gave us Jesus. Jesus is the best gift. I love Him.”
  3. Let each child softly pat the blanket. Whisper their name, like “Jesus loves you, Noah.”
  4. Invite them to give Jesus a gift this week, like a hug, a share, or a helping hand. Fold arms for the closing prayer.

Class screen: 💛 Jesus is the best gift. · Give Jesus a gift this week

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: A baby doll or a small blanket bundled up like a baby (baby Jesus)

  1. SAY“Let’s use whisper voices, like baby Jesus is sleeping.”
  2. Rock your arms like you’re holding a tiny baby. Let the kids rock too.
  3. Share, “Heavenly Father loves us so much, He gave us Jesus. Jesus is the best gift. I love Him.”
  4. Go around the circle and whisper each name, like “Jesus loves you, Noah.”
  5. Invite them to give Jesus a gift this week, like a hug, a share, or a helping hand. Fold arms for the closing prayer.
7. Game

What’s Hiding? Mystery Picture

3 minBONUS

A picture reveal reviews the story if you have a few extra minutes.

  1. SAY“A picture from our story is hiding! Let’s find out what it is.”
  2. Open Mystery Picture. Call out a “show me,” like “Show me rocking arms!” Tap away a tile after each one.
  3. Let everyone guess. When the picture shows, tell that part of the story together.
🧩 Mystery Picture (a class game in the Gospel Sparks app)

Class screen: 🖼️ What’s hiding?

8. Game

Picture Quiz

4 minBONUS

A gentle picture quiz reviews the story. Everybody wins.

  1. SAY“Picture quiz time! Listen, then point to the right picture.”
  2. Open Scripture Showdown. Read each question and point to each picture. Kids point or call out the answer.
  3. Cheer every right answer. Skip team scores if they cause tears. With Sunbeams, everybody wins.
▶ Play Scripture Showdown on the web

Class screen: 🏆 Picture quiz!

The story

The Best Gift of All

Isaiah 9:6; Luke 1:26–35; Luke 2:1–20 ↗

Optional helpers

  • Baby HelperSits by you and gently holds the baby Jesus doll in scenes 4 and 7.
  • Sound HelperTaps each scene’s sound on your phone or tablet with your help.

Scenes

  1. 📜⏳ Prophets promised a special baby

    Long ago, prophets like Isaiah promised that a special baby would come to save us. Everyone waited and waited.

    🙌

  2. 👼💬 An angel visits Mary

    An angel came to Mary. He told her not to be afraid. She would have a baby, and His name would be Jesus.

    🙌

  3. 🚪🙅 Knock, knock! No room!

    Mary and Joseph traveled a long way to Bethlehem. Joseph knocked on the door of the inn, but there was no room!

    🙌 Knock on your knees: “Knock, knock!” Shake your head: “No room!”

  4. 👶⭐ Baby Jesus is born!

    That night, baby Jesus was born. Mary wrapped Him in soft cloths. She laid Him in a manger. A manger is where animals eat hay.

    🙌 Rock your arms: “Shhh.”

  5. 🐑👼 Angels tell the shepherds

    Out in the fields, shepherds watched their sheep. A bright angel told them a Savior was born! Then lots of angels praised God.

    🙌 Soft sheep voice: “Baa!”

  6. 🧑‍🌾🐑 The shepherds find baby Jesus

    The shepherds hurried to Bethlehem. They found baby Jesus lying in the manger, just like the angel said.

    🙌

  7. 🎁💛 Jesus is the best gift!

    Heavenly Father loves us so much that He sent His Son, Jesus. Jesus is the best gift of all!

    🙌

Key verse

Isaiah 9:6 ↗
“For unto us a child is born”
In kid words: A baby was born for us: Jesus!
🙌 “For unto us” = sweep your arms around the whole class · “a child” = rock a baby in your arms · “is born” = lift your arms up slowly with a big smile

More verses

Luke 2:11 ↗
“unto you is born this day … a Saviour”
In kid words: Today a Savior is born for you!
Luke 2:7 ↗
“wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger”
In kid words: Mary wrapped baby Jesus snug and laid Him in a manger.
John 3:16 ↗
“God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son”
In kid words: Heavenly Father loves us so much that He gave us Jesus.

Forehead Guess words12 words

  • 👶 Baby Jesus
  • 👩 Mary
  • 🧔‍♂️ Joseph
  • 🌾 Manger
  • 👼 Angel
  • 🧑‍🌾 Shepherd
  • 🐑 Sheep
  • ⭐ Star
  • 🎁 Present
  • 🏘️ Bethlehem
  • 🚪 Door
  • 🌙 Moon
Clues for each word
  • Baby Jesus: Heavenly Father’s best gift
  • Mary: Jesus’s mother
  • Joseph: He took loving care of baby Jesus
  • Manger: Baby Jesus’s bed of hay
  • Angel: Shared the good news with the shepherds
  • Shepherd: Takes care of the sheep
  • Sheep: It says “baa”
  • Star: It twinkles in the night sky
  • Present: We opened one and found baby Jesus
  • Bethlehem: The little town where Jesus was born
  • Door: Knock, knock! No room!
  • Moon: It shines at night
▶ Play Forehead GuessFull screen, 60-second timer, works on any phone.

Scripture Showdown7 questions

  1. Where did baby Jesus sleep?
    • A. 🌾 A manger
    • B. 🛁 A bathtub
    Show answer

    ✅ A. 🌾 A manger Mary laid Him in a manger, a soft bed of hay.

  2. Who told the shepherds about Jesus?
    • A. 🦖 A dinosaur
    • B. 👼 An angel
    Show answer

    ✅ B. 👼 An angel An angel shared the good news, and then lots of angels praised God!

  3. What animals did the shepherds take care of?
    • A. 🐧 Penguins
    • B. 🐊 Crocodiles
    • C. 🐑 Sheep
    Show answer

    ✅ C. 🐑 Sheep Baa! Shepherds take care of sheep.

  4. Who is Heavenly Father’s best gift?
    • A. 👶 Baby Jesus
    • B. 🚂 A toy train
    Show answer

    ✅ A. 👶 Baby Jesus Jesus is the best gift of all!

  5. Who held baby Jesus close?
    • A. 🐻 A bear
    • B. 👩 Mary
    Show answer

    ✅ B. 👩 Mary Mary, His mother, held Him snug and close.

  6. Was there room at the inn?
    • A. 👍 Yes
    • B. 👎 No room!
    Show answer

    ✅ B. 👎 No room! Knock, knock! No room, so baby Jesus slept in a manger.

  7. What gift can we give Jesus?
    • A. 💛 Our love
    • B. 🍌 A banana
    Show answer

    ✅ A. 💛 Our love Jesus loves it when we love and help others!

▶ Play Scripture ShowdownTeams take turns on one screen.

Songs

  • Away in a Manger Children’s Songbook, p. 42

    Many children know it from home. Rock your arms while you sing after opening the present. Find it ↗

  • Once within a Lowly Stable Children’s Songbook, p. 41

    A short, gentle Nativity song to sing after the story if there’s time. Find it ↗

  • He Sent His Son Children’s Songbook, p. 34

    The lesson’s one truth in a song: Heavenly Father sent Jesus to us. Find it ↗

  • Silent Night Hymns, no. 204

    Hum it softly for a calm ending. Families can sing it together at home. Find it ↗

This week’s challenge

A Gift for Jesus

Give Jesus a gift this week. Hug someone who’s sad, share a toy, or help clean up. Then tell your family, “I gave Jesus a gift!”

Text the parents

Today in Sunbeams we opened a present and found baby Jesus, Heavenly Father’s best gift. That’s from John 3:16. We heard the Nativity story with knocking hands, rocking arms, and soft little “baa”s. We said “For unto us a child is born” from Isaiah 9:6. Then we filled a gift bag with love for Jesus. Ask your child, “What gift will you give Jesus this week?”

📝 After class

What worked? Who needs a check-in this week? Jot it here on a printed copy, or in the app’s private class notes.

Got extra time?

🌾 Hay for the Manger · 4 min

  1. Cut yellow paper into thin strips. That’s hay!
  2. Set out a small box or basket for the manger. Each child names one kind thing they can do and adds a strip of hay.
  3. Say, “Our kindness makes a soft bed for baby Jesus. That’s a gift He loves!”

⭐ The Wise Men Come · 3 min

  1. Twinkle your fingers up high. Say, “The wise men followed a star to find Jesus. Let’s follow my twinkle fingers!”
  2. Everyone tiptoes behind you around the room, twinkling too. Then kneel and hold out pretend gifts.
  3. Say, “The wise men came from far away because they loved Jesus. We love Him too!”

🔦 Jesus Is Our Light · 3 min

  1. Turn off the lights for just a moment. Don’t make it too dark for little ones.
  2. Turn on a flashlight. Point to Psalm 27:1 and say together, “The LORD is my light.”
  3. Say, “Jesus helps us not be scared, like a light in the dark.” Turn the lights back on and cheer.

🐑 The Lord Is My Shepherd · 2 min

  1. Everyone’s a sheep, and you’re the shepherd. Walk slowly while the sheep follow.
  2. Point to Psalm 23:1 and say together, “The LORD is my shepherd.”
  3. Say, “Jesus takes care of us like a good shepherd takes care of sheep.”

Sources

Scripture quotations are from the King James Version, the Bible used by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Tap or click a reference to open it in Gospel Library. Start with the official Come, Follow Me manual; these ideas are here to help it come alive.

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